Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
exosphere [ek-soh-sfeer] EXAMPLES|WORD ORIGIN noun the highest region of the atmosphere, where the air density is so low that a fast-moving air molecule is more than 50 percent likely to escape from the atmosphere instead of hitting other molecules. Liberaldictionary.com
Origin of exosphere First recorded in 1950–55; exo- + -sphere Related formsex·o·spher·i·cal [ek-suh-sfer-i-kuh l, -sfeer-] /ˌɛk səˈsfɛr ɪ kəl, -ˈsfɪər-/, ex·o·spher·ic, adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 Examples from the Web for exosphere Historical Examples of exosphere
The atoms of the exosphere were lonely, uncrowded, isolated particles.
Jeff Sutton
In the shed on the left is Orion, which is a two-stage rocket for deep penetration into the exosphere.
Harold Leland Goodwin
His instruments told him they were breaching the exosphere, where molecular matter had almost ceased to exist.
Jeff Sutton
British Dictionary definitions for exosphere exosphere noun the outermost layer of the earth’s atmosphere. It extends from about 400 km above the earth’s surface Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 exosphere in Science exosphere [ĕk′sō-sfîr′] The outermost region of the Earth’s atmosphere, beginning at an altitude of approximately 550 km to 700 km (341 to 434 mi) and merging with the interplanetary medium at around 10,000 km (6,200 mi). The exosphere consists chiefly of ionized hydrogen, which creates the geocorona by reflecting far-ultraviolet light from the Sun. On the remote edges of the exosphere, hydrogen atoms are so sparse that each cubic centimeter might contain only one atom; furthermore, the pressure and gravity are weak enough that atoms in the exosphere can escape entirely and drift into space. Artificial satellites generally orbit in this region. See also mesosphere stratosphere thermosphere troposphere. See illustration at atmosphere. The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
